Police in Western Australia say a Perth man allegedly mistook highly toxic death cap mushrooms for “magic” mushrooms while foraging in the Manjimup forest area. According to reports from multiple outlets, the man is said to have been stopped by police after they found him in connection with illegal mushroom foraging. The man reportedly believed he had collected the psychedelic variety, but tests and identification described by police indicate the mushrooms he picked were death caps, a species that can be lethal if eaten.
The accounts describe the incident as a dangerous mix-up and state that police intervened to prevent further harm. ABC Australia reports that police saved the forager from what could have been a potentially lethal outcome. The other outlets similarly report that the forager was “shocked” upon learning he had picked the wrong mushrooms. All reports focus on the alleged misidentification, the location in the Manjimup region, and police involvement in stopping the matter before the mushrooms could be consumed.
